Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria
Syria: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 9,885 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria, 1978–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria stood at 9,885.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.0% on the previous year and down 53.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria peaked at 1.50 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 170, in 1978.
Syria ranks 91st of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 170 | — |
| 1979 | 200 | +17.6% |
| 1980 | 350 | +75.0% |
| 1981 | 1,050 | +200.0% |
| 1982 | 26,570 | +2430.5% |
| 1983 | 40,490 | +52.4% |
| 1984 | 34,230 | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 47,750 | +39.5% |
| 1986 | 1,330 | -97.2% |
| 1988 | 280 | -78.9% |
| 1990 | 4,125 | +1373.2% |
| 1991 | 4,210 | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 6,310 | +49.9% |
| 1993 | 38,710 | +513.5% |
| 1994 | 40,285 | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 36,222 | -10.1% |
| 1996 | 27,758 | -23.4% |
| 1997 | 22,705 | -18.2% |
| 1998 | 20,969 | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 6,464 | -69.2% |
| 2000 | 3,461 | -46.5% |
| 2001 | 3,348 | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 2,914 | -13.0% |
| 2003 | 3,676 | +26.1% |
| 2004 | 15,600 | +324.4% |
| 2005 | 26,087 | +67.2% |
| 2006 | 702,202 | +2591.8% |
| 2007 | 1.50 million | +114.2% |
| 2008 | 1.11 million | -26.5% |
| 2009 | 1.05 million | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 1.01 million | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 755,435 | -24.9% |
| 2012 | 476,496 | -36.9% |
| 2013 | 149,286 | -68.7% |
| 2014 | 149,135 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 21,112 | -85.8% |
| 2016 | 19,807 | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 19,425 | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 18,817 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 16,213 | -13.8% |
| 2020 | 15,304 | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 14,308 | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 13,121 | -8.3% |
| 2023 | 12,011 | -8.5% |
| 2024 | 11,635 | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 9,885 | -15.0% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 9,885 is below the median for low income countries, which is 45,052, 22% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Syria's 9,885 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 64% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +2591.8% | 26,087 | 702,202 |
| 1982 | +2430.5% | 1,050 | 26,570 |
| 1990 | +1373.2% | 280 | 4,125 |
| 1993 | +513.5% | 6,310 | 38,710 |
| 2004 | +324.4% | 3,676 | 15,600 |
| 1981 | +200.0% | 350 | 1,050 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 185 | 170 | 200 | 2 |
| 1980s | 19,006 | 280 | 47,750 | 8 |
| 1990s | 20,776 | 4,125 | 40,285 | 10 |
| 2000s | 442,121 | 2,914 | 1.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 263,120 | 16,213 | 1.01 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,711 | 9,885 | 15,304 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 88 Montenegro 12,269 compare
- 89 Russia 11,811 compare
- 90 Luxembourg 10,284 compare
- 92 Tajikistan 8,620 compare
- 93 Zimbabwe 8,570 compare
- 94 Iceland 8,459 compare
More population data for Syria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1531 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1531 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.149 (2100)
- Population density 237.91 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.22 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.149 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.0104 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Syria was 9,885 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.50 million in 2007.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 170 in 1978.
- How does Syria rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Syria ranks 91st out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).